The Murder Room: An Adam Dalgliesh Mystery

The Dupayne, a small private museum in London, is in turmoil. As its trustees argue over whether it should be closed, one of them is brutally and mysteriously murdered. Yet even as Commander Adam Dalgliesh and his team proceed with their investigation, a second corpse is discovered. Someone in the Dupayne is prepared to kill and kill again. Still more sinister, the murders appear to echo the notorious crimes of the past featured in one of the museum's galleries: the Murder Room.

The writing is beautiful. The narration is perfect. I guess if you need your mysteries at a quicker pace...well, you wouldn't have bought P.D. James in the first place. It doesn't matter anyway. The book flies by. I only wish they had more of James to on "byte" or whatever. I "rewind" sometimes just to hear the writing. I mean, a girl does need her murders - and James provides, and happily - but getting there is such a pleasure.

In the Woods

As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers begin to call their children home. But on this warm evening, three children do not return from the dark and silent woods. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children, unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours.

Twenty years later, the found boy, Rob Ryan, is a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad and keeps his past a secret. But when a 12-year-old girl is found murdered in the same woods, he and Detective Cassie Maddox find themselves investigating a case chillingly similar to the previous unsolved mystery.

It's hard to name what keeps this from being a 5 star book. What makes Revolver a '5', and The White Album a '4'? (Or was it the other way around?) I gave a couple PD James books '5's, The Devil in the White City' a '5'; I'm not afraid of methodical narratives nor antique timing. This book is well written -- some of the sentences are little gold things all on their own -- and the story ticks along. Stephen Crossley does a fine job narrating (though, isn't this supposed to be in Ireland??) At least some of the characters are Irish? Well, it's probably best to avoid the accent altogether if you can't do it with conviction. So I'll leave it a mystery why I begrudge it that one last star. (Could be because it FEELS like it's promising ju-u-st more than it ultimately delivers? It's very, very good - and I highly recommend it. I do! But...although along the way I thought I might, I didn't end up lighting up a smoke or anything when it was finished.) That said, I'll remember it fondly.

In 1994, Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson were brutally murdered at her home in Brentwood, California. O. J. Simpson was tried for the crime, but was ultimately found not guilty of criminal charges. The victims' families brought civil cases against Simpson, in which he was found liable for willfully and wrongfully causing the deaths of Ron and Nicole by committing battery with malice and oppression. The Goldman family views this book as Simpson's confession.

...he convinced me. It was all Nicole's fault. She badgered him into marrying her. She badgered him into divorcing her, then she badgered him into killing her. It's all so clear now. And Ron Goldman? He irritated The Juice with his karate moves. Had to kill him! None of this is a surprise - the narrative, the 'reasoning', the victimization of OJ by OJ: Simpson comes off as a pitiful, self-serving narcissist. Every time he says "to be honest..." you think, 'yyyeah. Here it comes...' and he launches into another intricate rationalization of why he's such a nice guy. Why he did his best! But it was everyone else's fault. SHe contradicts himself at almost every point. And some of his points are believable, even credible. But even if you granted him everything about Nicole - drugs, hysteria- it never adds up. Obviously not to murder, but...his own behavior doesn't make sense! He sounds like a child! - throwing up anything possible to justify what he didn't do but if he did he had reason to but he didn't so, uh, there. The narrator does a spooky imitation of Simpson. The writing is good and well-paced. The introduction by Kim Goldman feels unnecessarily long, however real and sincere. Almost as interesting as the text itself is the forward by the Pablo Fenjves - that memorable witness who heard the 'baleful moaning' of the Akita, and the ghostwriter of this book. He comes off as more than credible and fair. For me, this book put a sound 'period' on the end of the OJ chapter. Listening to the intricate elaborations of a bad liar took that "IF" right out of the title. He Did It.

True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa

In the haunting tradition of Joe McGinniss's Fatal Vision and Mikal Gilmore's Shot in the Heart, True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa weaves a spellbinding tale of murder, love, and deceit with a deeply personal inquiry into the slippery nature of truth.

The story is, yes, disturbing - and for more than one or two reasons. I'll start with myself.

1. I bought it. I cared enough about this s-head to read about why he (meaning both of them) cared about himself enough to ...I don't have enough words or, rather, male pronouns to finish that solipsism. Mainly, I regretted buying it because it ended up being about two guys wondering about themselves for 5 hours. One had become full of himself and done something marginally wrong with grave career repercussions; the other was a psychopath and murdered his family. I was interested in both and now I feel like shooting myself in the head.

2. The writing was not very interesting afterall. Although when you read the description (not mine), it does sound like a v. interesting book, _I_ think it's written so...I don't know. There's so much about the journalist and his great emotions that...wow. Who cares?? Maybe it would've come off better if he hadn't narrated. Maybe it's better in book form. Because the IDEA sounds interesting but...

3. The narrator is SO BAD I got angry with him! Oh...my...word. Please, dear God, let other people narrate your work. It was like listening to a kindergarten teacher reading "Inch Worm". Then he would get this inappropriately excited tone when talking about the dead mom's parents or whatever. Just..he was all over the place. A habitual, unbreakable cadence that was absolutely unlistenable. I know it's harsh. I know. But I wanted, I really did want, to listen to it. But after 2 hours I was actually mad at it. I was mad at a virtual book, at someone's voice I know only binarily! It was that irritating.

White Butterfly: An Easy Rawlins Mystery

Easy Rawlins, who "might be the best American character to appear in quite some time," is called in by the LAPD to assist in the hunt for a serial killer. In 1950s Los Angeles, Easy can go where the cops cannot, so he sets out on a dangerous odyssey that leads to a startling and heartbreaking conclusion - and in so doing, jeopardizes his marriage and his life.

I've bought...I don't know how many of these 'color' books, but I can only hope Mr. Mosley believes in shades. If he keeps writing, I will keep buying! Easy Rawlins is a real, layered, truthful, lying, interesting character that you can't take your eyes off of and you root for all the way. And the writing is terrific. True, I've only bought these books on audio, and was sorely disappointed by one, but not for the writing. Here, the juicy dialogue and descriptions are brought into form well and distinctly by Stanley Bennet Clay. He gives each character a different voice and holds them to it. I held back one star from the review because some of the lesser characters all kinda get the same "yessuh" voice and in that his work gets a bit sloppy. But I'll tell ya, this is very satisfying "event" on the whole. The reading of the characters and action is vivid and clean; the writing, as ever, superb.

For me, this is the perfect bridge between art and entertainment. You get some good blood & guts and sex - but it's not T.V., (nobody's quite chewing your food for you) you still get to think - and it's wrapped up in great drama. I mean, what else do you need?? They can't sell popcorn over WiFi. You still have to ambulate a LITTLE to get some yum...but then settle in - cause you won't want to move once it's started. This is a good one.

The story was captivating, the reading was spot on; the writing was terrific. I wish I had better adjectives to describe the work. I resisted buying it - Historical? ugh. World's Fair?? Come on! Of course there is murder and mayhem...As it turned out, the M & M was the least interesting aspect. I found myself thinking about that damn fair for WEEKS afterwards(!) - spouting details and trivia about its creation to anyone who would listen (the pool of which became smaller and smaller). An absolutely fabulous book. Most highly recommended.

David Sedaris Live at Carnegie Hall

If you are driving, pull over. If you are at work, close your door, unless you don't mind your colleagues seeing you doubled over, in tears, on your office floor. With this recording, taped before a delirious sold out audience at Carnegie Hall, you are there as David Sedaris performs new stories from his upcoming book. A parrot who mimics an ice maker, lovers quarreling over a rubber hand, and a Santa Claus who moonlights from his job as bishop of Turkey, the cast of characters is like no other.

Probably the funniest writing/reading there is to have by Sedaris. Such a talented boy. And the stories/essays are not just funny but underpinned with such a kindness and...commonality, I guess, that you will be touched as well as laughing your head off. "You'll laugh, you'll cry!" (It's true!)

Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith

With the trademark wisdom, humor, and honesty that made Anne Lamott's book on faith, Traveling Mercies, a runaway best seller, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith is a spiritual antidote to anxiety and despair in increasingly fraught times.

I've been a fan of Anne Lamott's for 15 years or so. I've still got articles she wrote for the SF Chronicle in the late 80's, before I knew "who she was", so believe me when I say I -wanted- to like this! It's harsh but true, her narration is unlistenable. She sounds in turns whiney and droning. Her cadence and tone sound like Dylan Thomas reciting "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" - which would be wonderful if she were Dylan Thomas or reading "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night"; but she's reading essays - mostly funny ones - and it is a grind. If you can hear past the whine and drone, yes! Her words are good and substantial and funny. But it's a lot of work to get there. Better to buy the book.

Me Talk Pretty One Day

David Sedaris' collection of essays - including live recordings! - tells a most unconventional life story. With every clever turn of a phrase, Sedaris brings a view and a voice like no other to every unforgettable encounter. You can also listen to Sedaris in an interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air.

Sedaris' funniest work on audio, period. I've got it on tape, unabridged, and was looking forward to transefering it to my iPod. So disappointing! This is really missing whole chunks of great stuff. If you're new to Sedaris, it's a good start, no doubt; but "Live at Carnegie Hall" is probably even better. I listened at work and had my head on my desk I was laughing so hard.

A Little Yellow Dog: An Easy Rawlins Mystery

November 1963: Easy's settled into a steady gig as a school custodian. It's a quiet, simple existence - but a few moments of ecstasy with a sexy teacher will change all that. When the lady vanishes, Easy's stuck with a couple of corpses, the cops on his back, and a little yellow dog who's nobody's best friend. With his not-so-simple past snapping at his heels, and with enemies old and new looking to get even, Easy must kiss his careful little life goodbye - and step closer to the edge...

My first experience of this author and series I have heard so much about. The writing is, as "advertised", wonderful. Being a native Angelino I love hearing even the names of the streets evoked. That is why hearing them mispronounced - again and again - is really hard on the ears, esp. since "Easy" is supposed to be such a cool cat and an Angelino himself. (It's "La Ci-en-e-ga", not "La Ceenega") Sorry, but the narrator's voice itself is fine and deep and textured but, as some of these reviews point out, he sometimes reads like he's just learning how. It's weird. I almost had to ignore the reading to stay focused on the words. That's too much work for something you should get lost in. But those words! Mercy. I bought this book on a $9.98 sale and it was definitely worth it. The narrator is not sooooo bad that it ruins the experience; he's just awkward and I am cranky about details; and it is an awfully good book. I'm definitely in for every one of this series. I haven't even finished this one and I'm writing the review! If you're waffling, I'd say get it, but get others first if this one costs 30 bucks or whatever. Know what I mean?

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